COVID-19 UPDATE!

By Doug Thies, Safety Director

If you’ve developed COVID like symptoms or have received a positive test you should stay home and quarantine for the period of time shown below.

The current CDC guidelines require a five (5) day quarantine period. The following is how the CDC defines when the quarantine period starts: 

If you had no symptoms:

• Day 0 is the day you were tested(not the day you received your positive test result)
• Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested

If you had symptoms:

• Day 0 of quarantine is the first day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
• Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started

If you test positive you should immediately notify DPS COVID contact douglas.thies@state.mn.us for direction.

Minnesotans can find vaccination and testing resources at mn.gov/covid19.

For more information, including how to get tested for COVID-19: 

You can access information about COVID-19 testing here or find information about community test sites here. You can order free at-home rapid tests at this link.

MEDICAL LEAVE AND SHORT/LONG TERM DISABILITY

By Kate Rios, Labor Relations Manager

If you become unable to work or know that you will need to take time off due to a medical condition, be sure you notify Human Resources at HR.LeaveMgmt.DPS@state.mn.us to ensure your leave is protected and that your benefits remain in place.  Contacting The Hartford to place a short-/long-term disability claim is a separate step from contacting Human Resources.  The Hartford is an independent company that pays you a portion of your salary if you cannot work due to a disabling illness, injury, or pregnancy.  The Hartford does not share claim or medical information with Human Resources so it is important that you keep HR informed of your leave needs.

For more information on short- or long-term disability insurance, please consult MMB’s website.

WHAT DO I DO IF I WANT TO RETIRE FROM STATE?

By Chris Johnson, FMLA Benefits Coordinator

Links to help plan:

Plan your retirement:  https://mn.gov/mmb/etd/retirement-seminars/

Retirement planning resources: https://mn.gov/mmb/segip/retirement/

Minnesota State Retirement Systems (MSRS): https://www.msrs.state.mn.us/

Contact number: 651-296-2761 or 800 657-5757

I have my retirement date, now what do I do?

Provide a letter of intent to retire within 30 calendar days (preferably) prior to retirement date. This is a simple note employee provides to Designated Department Representative (DDIR) Chris Johnson via email: christine.m.johnson@state.mn.us

The Designated Department Insurance Representative (DDIR) will mail a formal retirement letter along with the necessary applications to continue benefits on a post retirement basis via USPS to the address on file. Current rates will also be included for eligible benefits to continue on post-retirement basis.  Employee will have 30 calendar days from the date of retirement to complete the forms and return to DDIR to the address on the letter. The DDIR will review the forms prior to submitting the forms to the State Employer Group Insurance Program (SEGIP) for processing.

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Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) 

I have medical issues and or need to care for a family member with medical issues.  How do I apply for FMLA?  Please send all requests/inquiries to: HR.leavemgmt.DPS@state.mn.us

To be eligible for the FMLA, every state employee must meet the eligibility requirements of:

• Must have worked 12 months prior to the request AND
• Must have worked 1,250 service hours prior to the request

FMLA can be taken intermittently or on a continuous basis.

Refer to FMLA Statewide policy: HR/LR Policy #1409, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) (mn.gov)

Requests for FMLA can to be sent to HR.leavemgmt.dps@state.mn.us by the employee or supervisor as soon as possible. Paid leave banks need not be exhausted prior to requesting the FMLA.

The FMLA request must include:

• Who the request is for (employee, spouse, child, parent)
• Nature of request – surgery (surgery date) Chronic medical, birth of child

Notice of FMLA eligibility will be provided to both supervisor and employee.  FMLA is not approved until the FMLA medical certification of Health Care provider has been received and reviewed.  Notice of approval will be sent to both the employee and supervisor. 

I don’t qualify for FMLA.  What are my other leave options?

• Medical Leave – state employee may request of medical leave for their own medical situation for up to 1 year by providing medical documentation to substantiate absences.

• Personal Leave- leave may be granted to an employee for personal reasons upon request. A supervisor approves the personal leave and sends the approval to leavemgmt.DPS@state.mn.us.  The personal leave is entered into the payroll system by the HR transaction team. The employee will be responsible for paying the entire cost of benefits (COBRA) which will be billed directly to the employee monthly.

RECHARGE AND POWER UP YOUR PERFORMANCE GOALS

By Jordan Groebner, Training Director

The FY23 course schedule and DPS Annual Training Bulletin is coming soon!  Watch for a GovDelivery message in mid-September, with a full year of professional development solutions that are FREE for Public Safety employees to attend.  Courses commence on September 26^th. Visit the HR Training and Development Information Hub for additional training solutions.

Looking For a Tech Refresh?

Microsoft Excel classes will be on the HR Training calendar for FY23!  Offered virtually, these instructor-led classes will help you level-up skills on this business mainstay.  To further support your daily work, completion of an Excel class makes you eligible to receive a LinkedIn Learning License for continued professional development. 

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is one of the largest eLearning platforms in the world and offers thousands of online professional skills development courses.  Supervisor approval must be granted for use of a LinkedIn Learning license during paid work hours.  For questions on receiving and using a LinkedIn Learning license, contact Jordan Groebner in DPS Human Resources.

Individual Development Plans (IDP)

Utilize a professional Individual Development Plan (IDP) to strategize, plan, and implement your development goals.  Create an approved training plan with your supervisor; and find learning that sharpens your skills, expands your abilities on the job, and helps you boost your career. 

Contact Jordan Groebner at: jordan.groebner@state.mn.us for training questions or assistance.

SEPTEMBER IS SELF-CARE AWARENESS MONTH

By Victoria Schwab, Assistant HR Director

Self–Care Awareness Month in September is a time to remind us that taking care of ourselves, first and foremost, is essential. Take an hour to focus on your health by attending one of LifeMatters Well-being Webinars. All sessions are held from noon to 1 p.m.

2022 Well-being Webinars

The webinar recording can be accessed through the LifeMatters website by logging on to www.mylifematters.com and entering the password: stmn1. Go to the right-hand side of the page, and under Quick Links, select “Work-Life Webinar Archives".

If you need an ASL interpreter or CART to access the webinars, please notify them at least three weeks prior to the webinar by emailing work.well.mmb@state.mn.us.

Earn 300 Well-Being points to get $70 off your 2023 deductible

Mindfulness

The term “mindfulness” has become something of a buzzword. However, given the many proven benefits associated with being mindful, learning how to foster this mental state is time well spent. Mindfulness is a form of awareness incorporating four characteristics:

• Being aware of our feelings as they are happening.
• Remaining in charge of our emotional reactions to events and people.
• Immersing ourselves in the present, rather than thinking about the future or past.
• Increasing our capacity for connection, empathy, and other pro-social behaviors.

Studies show many professionals experience over 50 significant interruptions daily. What’s more, on average, they access their smartphones over 1500 times a week. The result? A Harvard study shows we are mentally distracted about 47% of time. That’s a problem, because this behavior correlates with irritability, worrying, increased errors, diminished emotional intelligence, hurry sickness, and burnout.

Research shows mindful people experience greater well-being and life satisfaction, enhanced emotional intelligence, and less mental and physical damage from stress. What’s more, they are more emotionally responsive rather than reactive, meaning they feel more in charge of their attitudes, moods, and feelings, and less at risk for emotional hijacking.

With solid neuroscience demonstrating its value, cultivating mindfulness is increasing. There are three primary methods:

• Mindful Moments: This brief but powerful breathing technique, sometimes called a “brain reboot” or “coherent breathing,” can be practiced just about anywhere, takes about one minute, and rapidly induces a state of calm, focused awareness. Take six deep belly breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through parted lips. The exhale should be longer than the inhale. Repeat often throughout the day.
• Mindful Habits: This involves remaining mentally present during normal daily activities, such as walking, bathing, eating, driving, and so on. Focus on the sensory inputs/sensations accompanying the activity.
• Mindful Meditation: This simple, powerful method requires as little as five minutes daily. Over time, mindful meditation creates a new default mode in the brain characterized by calm, attentive awareness of the present moment. With regular meditation, this mental state generalizes, replacing the monkey mind as the brain’s default mode. Sit in an upright, centered posture, drop your shoulders down, relax your face, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing (use the same method as in Mindful Moments). Your thoughts will distract you. Whenever they do, just return your focus to your breathing. Continue for at least five minutes. Meditation apps can help, such as Insight Timer, Calm, and Headspace.

Being our best requires showing up, mentally and emotionally. Mindfulness gets us there.